Kaza is a scenic town located in the Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh, India. Situated at an altitude of around 3,800 meters (12,500 feet), Kaza serves as the administrative headquarters of the Spiti Valley and offers a mesmerizing blend of natural beauty, rugged landscapes, and rich cultural heritage.
The Monasteries
Monasteries are located atop hillocks and provide a very glorious sight to the travelers. Though there are many monasteries in India, especially in Himachal Pradesh, the monasteries found at Kaza are one of its kind due to the ancientness. One can also go for an overnight stay in the monastery at Spiti which is the second oldest after the monastery found in the Lhasa region of Tibet. The monasteries are made of mud, clay and other natural building materials. The interiors of the monasteries are smeared using sandalwood which provides an excellent atmosphere for one to meditate.
Go Out For Shopping
Shopping is one of the best things to indulge in while one is at Kaza. The marketplace at Kaza is one of the most vibrant places to indulge in shopping in Himachal Pradesh. Some of the rarest souvenirs like prayer flags, Buddhist statues, and other Buddhist materials can be purchased from here for the beloved ones. One of the most unique things found in this place is the human thigh bones and skulls which are decorated out of gold and silver which are used as religious material. One can also buy Spiti T-shirts from this place. Shopping at Kaza is not like shopping at any other places in India.
Star Gazing
Star Gazing is something that every human being who loves to connect with nature loves doing. One can just lie down in the roof and look up at the sky and look at the marvelous spread of shining, twinkling stars. When this in itself could give one whole lot of happiness, then imagine lying down under the blanket of stars at villages which are more than 10,000 to 15,000 feet above the sea level. The villages which are located very much above sea level are inhabited that can’t be found very easily.
Rafting In River Spiti
Rafting is one of the best water sport activities one can enjoy in the very cold waters of River Spiti. Rafting involves getting on to an air-inflated boat and a group of four would sit on both sides of the raft and enjoy a splashing ride in the chilly waters. The required safety gear is sold in the valley. Some lifeguards would accompany a team while they raft in the waters. Rafting is a very common water sport in Himachal Pradesh. One has to indulge in it to enjoy thoroughly what the water sport could offer.
Chilling By The Riverside
The riverside is a great best to chill by putting up a tent or just lying down by picking up a book to read. As the river meanders along the different routes, there are enough places where one could just lie down and stare at the sky and involve themselves in any fun activities. The natural formation along the river in Spiti Valley has some of the rarest rocks and pebbles. This type can be found only in a rocky cum snow-clad terrain like Himachal Pradesh. In other parts of India, one couldn’t bask near the waters very close like how one could bask near the waters of Spiti River. The other banks have clayey soil, whereas this riverbank has soil which is dry, which is suitable for having a fun, chill time.
Ride Along The Treacherous Roads
If you are very adventurous by nature, then you should never miss trying taking a ride in one of the world’s most dangerous roads. While one approaches the Spiti Valley from the Kinnaur Route, one could see a lot of warning signs on boulders could fall from above, there could be a landslide, etc., All these roads are not laid using tar and they are cut through rocks and tunnels. The tyres of the vehicle should be designed in such a way that they can accommodate these kinds of roads. One cannot use the vehicles which one uses regularly in cities. A bike with tyres that suit the terrain of the region must be hired. This is truly a very exciting experience.
Wishing Stones
The entire region of Himalayas is filled with positivity and ways of establishing connect with Mother Nature. The place has become a millennial paradise. There are some special ways by which the millennials could establish a conversation with Mother Nature. There is a wide variety of rocks and stones which are found in the region. They are of varying sizes, shapes and structures. One could stack the stones or the pebbles found in the region one above the other and make a wish. This is usually done using seven stones. This is one of those special activities which could only be done in the regions like Spiti Valley.
Taking A Stroll In The Villages
If you wish to have a look at and experience houses that you would have seen in the animated movies or straight out of a picture that a kid draws, then the villages in the region of Spiti Valley is the place to be. The villages are surrounded by very huge snow-clad mountains on all sides. There is a very pretty lake which is in the middle of the village. The lake is surrounded by houses on all sides. The houses also have an animal pen right in the doorsteps. The villages are made of numerous lanes and not very broad roads which one could usually spot in the cities.
Camping
Camping in the nights around a lake is one of the most exhilarating experiences one should try out. One could put up a tent and camp in the nights in the tent by staring at the night sky which is filled with beautiful stars. The best part is that one could even spot some shooting stars in the sky if they are lucky. The best season to camp is during summers as the temperatures are not harsh. If you are fine with camping in temperatures that are nail-biting, then one could prefer camping in the snow itself. One of the most memorable experiences is the hike from the campsite to the main river right in the morning after a heavy sleep. The breath of fresh air hitting on one’s face is a boon for those who have lived all their lives in the cities.
Lunching With The Lamas
A visit to any monastery is incomplete without sipping on a hot cup of tea. It is very refreshing to sip on a cup of tea that too in these cold weather. Filled with monasteries, one could spot a lama everywhere. The young Lama boys and the kids are always very friendly and are ready to pose for pictures how many ever times you ask them. If you reach the monastery in the mornings, then you are served with Spitian Bread and a cup of tea. If you reach during lunchtime, then the lamas force you to have lunch with them. This includes rice, dal and some simple vegetable. The spread is not extravagant but the unpolluted, served with love feel is what makes the meal complete in these places.
